Narrator Robbie Daymond's soft, calming tone is appropriate for the peaceful world of 17-year-old Sal. Sal's father, Vincente, is a gay Mexican-American who has a thoughtfulness and compassion reminiscent of Atticus Finch's. Vincente has always cared for Sal, having adopted him at age 3, when his mother died. A letter left by his mother leaves Sal wondering about his biological father. Could his genes be the cause of his recent violent tendencies? Or could it be the impending death of his beloved grandmother, or the disasters that have befallen his best friends? Daymond's gentle tones soothe listeners just as Vincente's tenderness calms the troubled waters through which Sal must pass. Daymond's narration, though low-key, gives rounded portraits of all the story's characters and doesn't minimize Sal's heartache or his attempts to control his temper.
(Fiction. 14-17)Pub Date: March 7, 2017
Duration: 12 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781524734541
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Listeners follow Merry, the longbow girl, one of the best archers in her town. When she finds a magical portal in the forest that takes her back to sixteenth-century Wales, she must use her skills to win an archery contest in order to help her ancestors keep their land. While narrator Emily Wilden brings protagonist Merry to life with a rich Welsh accent, her narration seems uneven at times. All the period characters have accents that reflect the setting of the story and transport listeners to Wales. Listeners who enjoy historical fiction and a bit of fantasy will be charmed by this tale of determination, hope, and family.
Young AdultPub Date: N/A
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781501916793
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In 1832 thirteen-year-old Charlotte Doyle is sailing from Liverpool to Rhode Island to rejoin her family. Shocked to discover that the families who were to have been both guardians and companions will not accompany her, Charlotte embarks on a journey filled with terror and swashbuckling adventure. The first-person narrative makes this Newbery Honor book a wonderful choice for recording. O'Karma's reading, with its hint of cross-gender differentiation, allows the listener to feel as if Charlotte Doyle herself were relating the tale. This story should be particularly alluring to adolescent girls although the fast-paced action and the nautical setting will also appeal to male listeners. Ages 12-adult.
Ages 12+Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 6 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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